Coin-holder.



W. P; HARTFORD & C. M. RICKOFF.

COIN HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2I. 19:5.

1 1 97, 73 6 Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WWW {WW W. P. HARTFORD & C. M. RICKOFF.

C0|N HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2I. 1915.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET -2.

4+ I 4 avwa-wtoz-o ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM PRESTON HARTFORD AND CLARENCE MONROE RICKOFF, OF GHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECTAND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, F ONE-THIRDTO SAIDHARTFORD, ONE-THIRD T0 WILLIAM T. DARDEN, AND ONE-THIRD TO ANGUS P.MOPHERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-HOLDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM PRESTON HARTFORD and CLARENCE MONROERIoKoFF, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented, certain new anduseful Improvements in Coin-Holders, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in coin holdersembodying therein an electrical displaydevice, and the primary object ofthe invention is to provide an improved device of this character wherebyupon coins being placed in the holder an advertising medium isvisualized in the face of a translucent mirror in said holder to'attractattention to the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter having a translucent mirror normally reflective, and anadvertising medium beneath the same adapted to be illuminated upon coinsbelng placed in the holder so that the sald advertising is visible inthe mirror as long as the coins remain in the holder.

Still another object-of the invention is to provide a circuit controldevice in the coin receptacle to operate a lamp to illuminate theadvertising medium for the purpose stated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device which is simpleand durable in construction, inexpensive to'm-anufacture, and one whichwill be very efficient in operation.

With these and numerous other objects in view, our invention consists inthe novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partswhich will be herein referred to and more particularly pointed out inthe specification and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device; Fig. 2 isa central vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectiontaken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on line i l of Fig. 2.

In describing the invention we shall refer to the drawings, in whichsimilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and in which the numeral 1 designates a casing, whichin this instance is shown as being Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

Application filed August 21, 1915. Serial No. 46,690.

a translucent mirror 3. The lower portion of said top is concaved asshown at 4, to form a receptacle to ,receive coins. In the bottom ofsaid' receptacle is placed a pair of spaced contacts 5 and 6, which areformed preferably of metal, being semicircular, and sunk in the lowerportion of said receptacle.

The receptacle 1 has a removable base portion 7 which is held therein byany fastening means, for instance as shown at 8. This base portion 7 hasprojecting upwardly therefrom, intermediate its ends and disposedadjacent either side, a pair of supports 9 and 10, which have attachingfeet on their lower end, and the upper portions of the same are bent atan angle upwardly and rearwardly to a point contiguous the upper surfaceof the casing. These supports are formed laterally U-shaped to form aguide adapted to receive an indicia 11 which is spaced thereby below themirror 3 and obliquely thereto with respect to the same. The indicia11in this instance is meant to comprise any preferred form ofadvertising matter, such as a card having either printed matter or animage printed or portrayed thereon. It is held in the aforesaidposition, at an angle to the mirror, for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed. Secured to the upper surface of the base 7, at a point infront of the said supports, is a substantially U-shaped reflector 12,which is secured to the said base at one side of the bent portion, asshown at 13, so that the lower arm of the same is positioned in the sameupper surface adjacent the re'arend of the same clamps 16 which areadapted to hold therebetween dry cells 17, constituting a battery, whichare for the purpose of ordinarily giving the current necessary tooperate this device.

One of the contacts 5, which is disposed in the receptacle 4, isconnected with the bus board 15 by a wire 18, while the other contact 6is connected by a wire 19 with one of the terminals of the batteries. Awire 20 connects the other terminals of the batteries with the reflector13, so that upon bridging or connecting the said contacts a completecircuit is formed and the lamps are lighted. If desired, the current maybe brought from some outside source, as shown at 21.

The device is normally inoperative, but upon the placing of anyconductors, such as coins, in the receptacle -.t, the same will slide tothe bottom and form a contact between the contact points 5 and 6,thereby completing a circuit and lighting the lamps 14, as described.The light from the lamp will be reflected on the indicia, or advertisingmatter 11, and owing to the positioning of the same, immediately uponits illumination, it is visualized through the translucent mirror 3.Vhen the conductors are removed from the receptacle, the circuit will bebroken, the light extinguished, and the indicia will disappear from themirror, leaving only the refleeting action of the same visible.

The device above described. forms a very novel and efficient displayapparatus that is especially adaptable for use in stores, etc, Where itmay be placed upon the counter, and a clerk upon making change drops itin the coin receptacle in the holder, whereby this device will beoperated and the advertising matter displayed will undoubtedly attractthe customers attention, as he removes the change. The contacts 5 and 6are placed so close together, or have a strip of insulating materialtherebetween, so as to prevent coins dropping through the space betweenthe two. The casing may be made of any material, or in any attractiveshape, and if desired a cigar cutter, or the like, may be placedthereon.

From the foregoing description of the construction of our improveddevice, the manner of applying the same to use and the operation thereofwill be readily understood and it Will be seen that we have provided asimple, inexpensive and eliicient means for carrying out the objects ofthe invention.

While We have particularly described the elements best adapted toperform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes inform,proportion, and in the minor details of construction may beresorted to, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

hat is claimed is 1. In a coin holder, a translucent mirror normallyreflective, an indicia, and means for illuminating said indicia upon theinsertion of a coin in said holder, whereby the indicia is visualizedthrough the mirror.

2. In a coin holder, atranslucent mirror normally reflective, an indiciadisposed beneath said mirror, and circuit controlled means forilluminating said indicia upon the insertion of a conductor in theholder whereby the indicia is visualized through the mirror.

3. A coin holder comprising a translucent mirror normally reflective, apair of spaced contacts, an indicia, an electric lamp, a source ofcurrent, and connections between said source of current, lamp andcontacts whereby the lamp is operated upon the bridging of said contactsby the insertion of a coin in the holder.

' 4. A coin holder comprising a casing ha ving a translucent mirror anda receptacle, an indicia disposed-beneath said mirror and an electriclamp disposed adjacent thereto in said casing, and circuit controlledmeans in said receptacle to. operate the lamp.

5. A coin holder comprising a casing, a-translucent mirror disposed in aportion of the top of said casing, a concave receptacle in the remainingportion of said top, an indicia disposed in said casing beneath themirror at an angle to the same, an electric lamp therein in front of theindicia, and circuit controlled means in the bottom of said receptacleto operate the lamp.

6. A coin holder-comprising acasing, a translucent mirror disposed in aportion of the top of said casing, a concave receptacle in the remainingportion of said top, an indicia supported in said casing beneath themirror and obliquely with respect thereto, an electric lamp in front ofsaid indicia, areflector for said lamp, and circuit controlled means inthe bottom of said receptacle to operate said lamp.

7. A coin receptacle comprising a casing, a-translucent mirror disposedin a portion of the top of said casing, a concave receptacle in theremaining portion of said top, an indicia disposed in said casingobliquely with respect to the mirror, a support to hold the indicia inthe aforesaid position, a U-shaped reflector having its bent portionsecured to the bottom of the casing and its lower arm in the same planeas the indicia, a lamp in the bottom of the reflector, current supplymeans for 7 said lamp, and

current controlled means in the bottom of the receptacle to operate thelamp.

current supply means for said lamp, apair of spaced contacts in thereceptacle, and connections between the same and'lamp to operate saidlamp.

9. A coin holder comprising a casing having a sloping top, a translucentmirror in the upper portion of the same and a concave receptacle in thelower, a removable base in said casing having therein an indiciasupported beneath the mirror, and an electric lamp and reflector infront of the same, clamps to hold a battery on said base, a pair ofmetal contacts in the bottom of the receptacle, a connection between oneterminal of the battery and the lamp, and connections between onecontact and the lamp and the WILLIAM PRESTON HARTFORD. CLARENCE MONROERIOKOFF.

Witnesses:

W. T. DARDEN, ELLA BURKE.

